What does Finnegan's signing mean for Miami? Here are several thoughts:

First and foremost, Finnegan offers insurance at the cornerback position. The Dolphins had unproven players on the roster opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes. Jamar Taylor and Will Davis are 2013 draft picks who have good potential. But Miami's coaching staff did not see enough from either player last year to pencil them in as a starter. Finnegan has been a starter nearly his entire career and veteran brings stability. He will compete with Taylor and Davis but enter training camp as an early favorite.

Finnegan also brings a nastiness to Miami's defense. He is a physical, scrappy cornerback who is not afraid to mix it up with receivers. Finnegan has received his share of fines over the years. The Dolphins also signed hard-hitting safety Louis Delmas earlier this week. It is clear new Miami general manager Dennis Hickey wanted to get more physical in the secondary. "I play with an edge," Finnegan said in a conference call with the Miami media Friday. "I’ve learned to control that throughout the years with the fines going down."

Finally, Finnegan represented himself as an agent. That is not the norm in the NFL. Finnegan said it was a great experience and an opportunity to see the business from a different perspective. Finnegan said being an agent after his playing days is not out of the realm of possibility, but for now he's focused on playing good football with the Dolphins.